Day: November 9, 2017

New proposals to limit CO2 from passenger cars and vans by 2030 would meet climate goals, but campaigners say regulations fall short. The European commission has unveiled new proposals for limits on carbon dioxide emissions from passenger cars and vans, which would compel manufacturers to cut emissions from their vehicles by nearly a third from 2030. But the proposals will not require manufacturers to make a fixed quota of their fleet run on electricity, as some campaigners had hoped. The commission said the new standards would help the bloc meet…

The recent global tax scandal, revealed on Sunday by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (known as the “ICIJ”), once again points up the weaknesses of a European policy approach. This was found by several NGOs (non-governmental organisations), reacting to the “Paradise Papers.” The NGO, Transparency International, observes that the legislation proposed by the European Commission, to make public information about offshore companies, has still not been approved by member states. This is despite the initial Panama Papers revelations last year. The European branch of the NGO, Oxfam, says, “The…

The ousted Catalan President, Carles Puigdemont, demanded a European Union reaction in his speech before the 200 Catalan mayors, meeting in Brussels on Tuesday. He also specifically thanked his “Flemish friends from the New Flemish Alliance.” This was followed by a round of applause, after several members of the Flemish nationalist party rose – indeed a standing ovation. Mr Puigdemont indicated, “Mesdames and Messrs Mayors, you have no idea what your presence here today symbolises for us, your solidarity, your attachment to these fundamental values which are in danger not…

STIB (responsible for Brussels public transport) has indicated this morning that no metro trains will run between the stations Arts-Loi and Élisabeth, in both directions, this weekend in Brussels. This is owing to work due to take place at the Rogier station. The Brussels public transport company must replace worn-out points between the stations Yser and Rogier, on November 11th and 12th. STIB stated, “During these works, the operation of metro trains on lines 2 and 6 will be interrupted between the Arts-Loi and Élisabeth stations in both directions, and…

EU

Plans to take back control of UK fisheries the moment Britain leaves the EU appear to have been abandoned in the face of united EU opposition, dealing a significant blow to the ambitions of the environment secretary, Michael Gove. Gove put repatriating control of fisheries at the heart...